12/18, 6:05pm

Apple posts G4 CPU Plugin

Apple has posted CPU Plugin for Gigabit Power Mac G4s 2.7, which "updates the Apple CPU Plugin extension and provides more reliable performance from your Power Mac G4." The software was originally made available on Friday via the Software Update control panel.

12/18, 4:47pm

Apple/BBC use updated streaming servers

Philip Kahn notes that Apple and/or the BBC have
recently updated their QuickTime streaming
servers. "The results over broadband are spectacular; this is
definitely the best streaming I have seen over the Web and it's only
coming in at around 250K."

12/18, 4:45pm

MaxGate introduces UGate 3200P

MaxGate has introduced UGate-3200P, a
seven-port, Cable/DSL modem sharing device. Features of the $270
switch/router include a built-in, single-port print server; spooling
and queuing of print jobs; and built-in Dynamic Domain Name Service
support.

12/18, 4:40pm

Newsweek takes a look at iMovie

Newsweek has posted a positive review of iMovie. "Then I saw a TV commercial for Apple's iMac, playing up the candy-colored bubble's ability to edit digital video. I realized that there's technology out there claiming to work just like the professional video-editing suites I've used a bit in previous jobs."

12/18, 3:39pm

CDFinder 3.0 improves performance

Norbert Doerner has posted CDFinder 3.0, an
update to his $20 shareware disk cataloging tool, which has a new, enhanced catalog
file format, threaded operations, improved peformance of up to 200%, and the ability
to eject multi-session CD volumes correctly.

12/18, 3:35pm

Nvidia gives more details on 3fdx acquisition

During a conference call
this morning conducted by Nvidia
Corporation executives, the company indicated that they plan to offer
positions to one hundred former employees of 3dfx Interactive (approximately 25% of the
company's workforce) with the vast majority being hardware engineers
described by Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang as "world-class" and "the best of the
best". The company also indicated that 3dfx Interactive was developing two
product lines beyond the Rampage architecture expected for release in Q1
2001, and Nvidia will begin the process of looking over those technologies
as early as next week to decide which features to incorporate into future
Nvidia technologies. The $112 million agreement for the acquisition of
assets from 3dfx Interactive, which is pending shareholder approval,
includes $70 million cash and 1 million shares of Nvidia common stock.

12/18, 2:07pm

Paradigma database tool updated

Paradigma's database development tool, VXCMD
1.8.6, works with any Macintosh "card" scripting tool, including Apple's
HyperCard, IncWell SuperCard, and MetaCard, is based on the Valentina database kernel.
Valentina Technology Release 1.8.6,
now also available, updates all Valentina kernel based products, bringing "dramatic"
speed improvements in VarChar indexing and improvements in Valentina caching.

12/18, 1:55pm

Games: SiN & JetSki Demos released, Cro-Mag

games.macnn.com covers a multitude of Mac game demo releases today including Majesty: The Fantasy Kingdom Sim, Avernum 2, Kawasaki Jet Ski watercraft and SiN Gold. In addition, the site provides details on the release of a 1.0.6 update for both the demo and retail versions of Cro-Mag Rally. [updated]

12/18, 11:35am

MRJ 2.2.3 Security hole gives file access

A security
hole in Apple's MRJ 2.2.3 allows intruders to view and copy files on your computer's
hard drive. The report on Apple's discussion board says that Apple has not responded
to the security flaw for the last 45 days. A demo
applet is available online.

12/18, 10:16am

Pads 2.0 now Carbonized

Dennis C. De Mars has posted Pads 2.0, a $15
replacement for the standard Note Pad and Stickies applications. Version 2.0 is now Carbonized and allows users to drag text selections, clippings and files
directly to the Pads window.

12/18, 9:21am

Packages adds pre-emptive threading to Mac OS

Jonathan Rentzsch has posted Red
Shed Threads, which gives developers the ability to add pre-emptive threading
to the classic Mac OS. The complete threads package contains everything from a low-level context switcher to a high-level threaded Open Transport wrapper and runs natively on a Mac II running System 7 as well as a G4 running Mac OS X: "Preemptive threading can result in huge speed gains and greater user satisfaction...The threaded File
Manager wrapper included with Red Shed Threads was tested to be over 400% faster
than the Thread Manager at copying files." An unlimited license is $1,025.A
FAQ has more details. [MacTech]

12/18, 8:51am

Astronomy simulation software updated

Syzygy Research & Technology has posted The Digital Universe
2.20, an update to the $150 astronomy simulation software that can now display radiants for meteor showers and legends on printed star charts.

12/18, 8:50am

Handspring ships VisorPhone

Handspring today began shipping its VisorPhone GSM Springboard module. The $300 device can be purchased direct from Handspring along with service plan activation from Cingular Wireless. The device allows Handspring owners to use their PDAs as a cell phone.

New at Xicons: two icon sets

12/18, 8:30am

Evological updates VolumeRocker, BrightnessRo

Evological has posted VolumeRocker 1.6 and BrightnessRocker 1.1, its two $5 Control Strip modules that provide rocker switch-style volume and brightness controls. Both updates offer support for ACTION GoMac and fixes a problem when using the module with Extensions Strip. The BrightnessRocker update also adds several new options.

12/18, 8:29am

2000 results added to Presidents3000 1.03

Ken Winograd has posted Presidents3000 1.03, a $20 shareware hangman-type game for learning presidents. This version adds the results of the Nov. 7 presidential election and corrects three errors in the vice presidential info displayed.

12/18, 6:00am

Audion 2 released from Panic

Panic today released Audion 2, a major upgrade to its MP3 player. The new version adds encoding capabilities, a waveform editor, crossfading between multiple tracks, and more. The shareware application costs $33 with encoder and $20 without encoder. Upgrades from version 1.0 are $20 and $10, respectively. We have also posted our review of Audion 2.